Des Plaines River Canoe & Kayak Marathon canceled due to floodwaters

The 2018 Des Plaines River Canoe & Kayak Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, has been canceled because of dangerous conditions, organizers announced Friday.

Water levels have been rising beyond flood stage in Wisconsin for several days because of storms this week. All that water has been flowing south, leading to an unsafe amount of water on the river.

"It is with a very heavy heart that the decision was made to cancel this year's race," the announcement on the group's Facebook page. "Conditions on the water are very dangerous for all paddlers. Stay off the water."

It has been 14 years since the race was last canceled, and this year marks only the second time it's happened in 60 years.

The event started in 1957 when 25 canoes made an 18.5-mile trek on the Des Plaines River. Last year, for the 60th marathon as many as 600 boaters took part, and the quickest finished in about 2½ hours.

The marathon begins near Oak Springs Road in Libertyville and ends at Dam No. 2 Woods in Mount Prospect. Last year was the first dam-free marathon, with the removal of the Hollister and Daniel Wright low-head dams in Lake County.

Organizers are hopeful river conditions next year will be better.

"The weather is going to be fabulous!" the message says of the May 19, 2019, race. "There will be no storms the week before the event."